Newbie needs advice

jcjstl

jcjstl

New member
I am brand new to saltwater i have had a few fresh water tanks over the years with my last one being a 55 gallon with a couple of large oscars and a large pleco they have all since past and my tank has sat dry for a couple years ... I would like to learn as much as possible and start a saltwater tank. I am on a very tight budget but would like to start this tank with future expansion in mind ... right now i have an all glass 55 gallon tank with standard hood and lights from good ole petsmart .. i also have an emporer 400 filter. Is there anyone out there that would like to help a newbie out and get me started in the right direction? Is there any books or websites that anyone could recommend? what is the best/cheapest way to get started.
 
Yea, buy as much as possible used or "cured" or whatever from other hobbiest. I started doing this half way through mine and it saved me a ton of money. You can find good quality lightly used products everyday online usually about half price from new. Then when you are up and running and finished cycling and are ready pm me and i will hook you up with some softie frags for shipping costs only.:D
 
You'll do better with a lot of live rock and no filter. A protein skimmer breaks down what lr can't. In this method, you cultivate a sand and rock structure rife with microlife, pods, and worms, and it does what a filter does; plus the bacteria convert the final product---what the corals don't eat---to nitrogen gas, which escapes slowly up to the surface. Hence we run with no lids, either, and very fortunately the fierce evaporation engendered by our lights offsets the heat these lights and pumps produce.

A sump is a very good idea. That way all the mare's nest of floats, skimmers, pumps, and heaters is out of the main tank and out of view. Plus it can add as much to your total water volume as you can manage. Some people have actually run sumps equal to their top volume of water. I run a 52 display with a 10 gallon sump---wedge tank: I was greatly space-limited.
 
here is the 4 main things needed


clean water (tds of 5 or less )
salt
live rock
power head

everyhing else is to help to keep the tank cleaner and trouble free
 
Ok maybe im getting ahead of myself but my goal is to built a sump with skimmer that will handle my 55 and future expansion... so far i really like the design on melevsreef.com i have read the step by step that was sugessted and it helped me get things in order ... i am pleased to see i dont need to go spend a few hundred on a filter. Would you guys agree with my plan to build the sump first and make it large enough to handle futue expansion or with my limited budget should i concentrate on what i have to have now and worry about expansion later ... i know that i would like to have a 200 or larger some day when i was a teen my step dad had a 220 fish only and a 110 reef tank. while i had little to do with then i did enjoy them greatly.
 
the problem is fitting a sump under a 55 gallon (unless you use acrylic)


i would say get a sump for the 55 if you want one and than if you want to go bigger use the 55 as a sump
 
i had planned on using acrylic but my plan was to have the sump actually in the next room with the pipes/ hoses going through the wall. the tank will be in my basement and the tank will be in the finished area with the sump and skimmer in the utility area. essentialy they would be riht next to each other justa wall seperating them.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7746133#post7746133 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jcjstl
i had planned on using acrylic but my plan was to have the sump actually in the next room with the pipes/ hoses going through the wall. the tank will be in my basement and the tank will be in the finished area with the sump and skimmer in the utility area. essentialy they would be riht next to each other justa wall seperating them.
Click to expand...

well than the possiablity are endless

sounds like you need to figure out how much you are willing to invest in the setup and than go from there


cheapest way to get started is wait for someone to sell live rock and get the tank cycled

also a sump is is an easy setup until you make make it to complicated

maybe hook up with a local reefer or pet store to get some ideas -- easier to get ideas after you see a few setups in person
 
If I had the option of sump in another room and had a 55 on hand I would: Look for a larger tank and stand...you can get a good sized tank for not much if you look around and use the 55 for a sump/fuge combo set up. Just my thoughts
 
If you really want to go BIG later on, why not do one of the rubber maid sumps that others have done. You'll end up having more water in your sump than in your 55g but the more water the more stable the system will be which is better.
 
Thanks again everyone im getting ideas together and going to try and plan this out very well before i just jump in .
 
Make a list of everything you need and sort it by priority...If you decide to stick with the 55, drill it...Maybe I missed that in the reading...

If you have the room for an equipment room, etc... I assure you that you will want to go bigger...You can find tanks, skimmer, lights, R/O Units, etc... for a fraction on here

Awesome place to find help in every aspect...Once you have your list, post it and get everyones input and I probably have some of the smaller stuff you will need that you can have for free.

Good luck!
 
before you buy anything, post a message here on the board.
someone might have what you're looking for.
 
I have loads of colored marbles you can have for substrate and a pirate's treasure chest aerator. :D
 
Actually waterkeeper that might save me some money i was checking out that pirates of the caribean set for tanks they have at walmart :)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7771001#post7771001 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jcjstl
Actually waterkeeper that might save me some money i was checking out that pirates of the caribean set for tanks they have at walmart :)
Click to expand...


Dude!!!! Which walMart? :D
 
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